NFL Draft Study: New York And Boston Set To Make Their Selections

Tonight at 8:00 PM, the world will set their sights on Radio City Music Hall in New York City. This is a time for fans to forget their previous season woes and embrace the team’s future-changing pick… that will probably end up being a bust. But hey, who is thinking about that now? No matter how good your team’s forecast is for the fall; a few key picks can put you over the edge. So who are the Jets, Giants, and Patriots looking to take this draft? Let’s take a look.

New York Jets

Team Needs: QB, WR, TE, G, OLB, S

First Round Picks: 9th, 13th

The Jets, by trading away Darrelle Revis, have made it clear they are entering somewhat of a rebuilding phase. This would become painfully clear to Jets fans if they end up taking a QB with one of their first picks, but I don’t see it. The talent at other positions seems to be much better than what is being offered at QB. It wouldn’t be shocking if the Jets moved one of these picks to get more picks, they have many needs. Turning one pick into two might not be the worst move.

9th Pick: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU

Barkevious has the best name in the draft. It’s awesome. But that aside, Mingo has shot up the draft board with his workouts and upside. The 6’ 4”, 241lbs. Mingo ran a 4.58 40-yard dash, and has tremendous burst off the line. While this isn’t their biggest need, it’s a potential all-star pick for a defense that’s lost its best player.

13th Pick: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

Austin has always been one of the more interesting players in this draft, but I am in love with the guy. Watching his tape, you see an amazing likeness to now Seahawks WR, Percy Harvin. He can return punts, play the slot, or beat cornerbacks with his blazing 4.34 40-yard dash speed on the sidelines. For a team that has a young big receiver in Stephen Hill, Austin would be an excellent long-term counterpart.

New York Giants

Team Needs: OLB, T, TE, DB, S

First Round Picks: 19th

The Giants had a pretty disappointing finish to a season that started with a lot of promise. After beginning 6-2, the Giants lost five of their last 8, to slide to 9-7 and missed the playoffs. The defense was banged up most of the season, but they’ll be looking to bolster an aging defense with young talent.

The Pick: Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia

Ogletree has the physical attributes that every team could love. At 6’2”, 242lbs. Ogletree can run a 4.72 40-yard dash, which gives him closing speed. He will give the Giants the athlete on that second level they’ve been missing. He has some attitude issues, but the Giants have always been good at handling egos. As long as it doesn’t involve following gun-toting, sweatpant-wearing stars to clubs…

New England Patriots

Team Needs: WR, CB, OLB, DE, S, RB

First Round Picks: 29th

The Patriots seem a call away from the Super Bowl the past few years, but the team is steadily becoming known as regular-season all-stars. They haven’t won it all since 2005. But they are as close to getting a ring as any team in the league. They have had one of the leagues worst defenses for a few years now, with extreme needs in the secondary. But the question for Belichick to answer is how effective can they be with the receiver void that they have? They’ve brought on Danny Amendola and still have the double-edged TE duo of Hernandez and Gronkowski, but do they need another piece?

The Pick: Robert Woods, WR, USC

This pick is a bit contingent on Woods still being available at the 29-spot. But assuming he is, this seems to be a perfect fit for the Patriots, and not just physically. Woods has been widely described as a great kid, with a great team-first attitude, prime for the Patriots system. From a football standpoint, Lee is a 6’ 0”, 201 lbs. receiver with a 33.5 inch vertical leap, who works best on the outside. This is exactly the type of receiver the Pats don’t have.